- Reflecting on the ‘Three Enemies’: Students from Form I to VI to explore Nyerere’s fight against ignorance, disease and poverty
- July 22 – October 14, 2025: Winners to receive laptops, certificates and cash prizes
- Integrity First: Guidelines distributed across mainland and Zanzibar; plagiarism and AI‐assisted entries strictly prohibited
- Beyond Essays: Mwalimu Nyerere Marathon in Mbeya and a week of youth‐focused events to cap off the celebrations
By Esther Mnyika, Dar es Salaam
DAR ES SALAAM, July 22, 2025 — The Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), in partnership with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, today launched a nationwide essay competition to mark the 26th anniversary of the passing of the nation’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
Speaking at a press briefing in Dar es Salaam, Happiness Ngasala, TBC’s Director of Television Services, said the contest aims to pay tribute to Nyerere’s enduring contributions and to inspire young Tanzanians to engage with his vision. “In honour of the 26th anniversary of Mwalimu Nyerere’s death, we have organised this competition for secondary school students from Form I to Form VI. They will reflect on the three enemies he identified—ignorance, disease and poverty—through essays submitted via TBC’s platform,” Ngasala explained.
The competition opened today, July 22, and will close on October 14, 2025, coinciding with Nyerere Day commemorations nationwide. Essays must address how the themes of ignorance, disease and poverty shaped—and were shaped by—Nyerere’s leadership and policies during his lifetime.
Ngasala announced that the top five entrants will each receive a laptop, certificates of achievement and cash prizes. “To eliminate ignorance, Nyerere’s educational reforms emphasised universal access and community participation. He urged Tanzanians to embrace change suited to our context rather than colonial legacies,” she noted.
Preparations are complete, and contest materials, including guidelines and topic prompts, have already been distributed to schools across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Ngasala urged participants to uphold integrity by avoiding plagiarism or the use of artificial intelligence tools; any student found cheating will be disqualified.
In addition to the essay competition, TBC has organised the inaugural Mwalimu Nyerere Marathon in Mbeya on October 14, 2025. The marathon will be followed by a week of youth-focused events featuring workshops, cultural exhibitions and leadership forums.
“The legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere lives on in our efforts to empower Tanzanian youth,” said Ngasala. “Through education, healthy living and civic engagement, we continue to build the nation he dreamed of.”